Shane trying out his new skateboard

Penguins and life

Not very often.... but sometimes I feel like this Mama Penguin--
 and then other times I love my title of Mom,
so much that I can't put it into words.

It has been a pretty good week at our house-- Getting back into a schedule is nice-- and Shane and Jessica really love school. They have been happy to do their homework!
I have been happy to tell them to DO their homework. :)

I saw my PT, and she was happy to tell me that I am making progress ! She is a mom of two also so she knows I do well with praise. She was nice enough to show me the Xrays... of my feet before-- she took her foot model out and showed me how-- both of my feet are different than the typical/normal foot. It was nice to know that all my foot issues are not just because I wore shoes that weren't foot-friendly.  I am still doing the exercises and they are still a ....chore-- but I really want to go walking and maybe eventually running-- so I am motivated to get better.

It is really great to see Shane interact with his current teacher, he is getting much better at being direct and polite.-- He came home the other day and was upset because he didn't get all his green points-- he was at one point trying to plead his case with his teacher, he was crying, whining, and yelling.
 His teacher stood strong against his shenanigans--- she let him know that his behavior was not going to gain any attention, or green points.  She even at one point just stepped over his body to deal with her other students.  I was very pleased that she was able to actively ignore him and not let what he was doing change what she needed to do. 
When Shane got home we snuggled on the bed and talked about the day-- he ended up telling me about an incident at recess. -- Shane and a new friend of his were playing an imaginary game-- another boy wanted to play also-- but Shane and his friend wouldn't allow that. -- Shane made a bad choice and put his hands on the other little boy. No adults saw, but the friend that Shane had been playing with saw, and she told the teacher. Shane's teacher tried really hard to find out the whole story but  Shane was too mad at his friend, and the little boy would not say anything-- . When Shane finally go the whole story out-- I explained that if he had been seen by an adult he would of gotten a level 3-- and a trip to the principals office.  He was somewhat remorseful-- so I wrote out an apology letter and had him re-write what I had written on the lines I included on the page.  I also had a chance to tell his teacher the whole story-- she also thought it was a bit funny that he managed to tell on himself! :)   
It's nice to know that Shane is willing to accept that his choices are not always the best and confess.

I also happened to run into Shane's kinder teacher-- and I had an odd interaction with her-- I usually say hello to her but that is about it-- I don't enjoy speaking with her, I think I am still bitter about how we were treated when Shane was a kinder-- but I try REALLY hard not to let that show. Anyway-- I stopped by to put money on the kids lunch tickets and  the teacher was getting ready to lead her kinders out and to their class--- she stood there and talked with me... IT was SO weird-- she was oblivious to the kids waiting VERY patiently in line-- she didn't even realize that I was trying not to add to the conversation. I am not sure what her motivation was--- our conversation wasn't really about anything more than grocery shopping-- and yet she just kept talking and asking questions.  I wonder if this is an olive branch ?


I have to get moving off of this computer and plan Shane's birthday party---
I hope I am able to make it easy and fun to attend without a ton of work.... :)
Because of Jerry's birthday, his work schedule and a memorial service I need to attend -- I have to plan Shane's party on a school night-- and with very short notice-- I hope I can make it work.

I also am now the PTO member that is in charge of our Scholastic Book Fair... I am pretty freaked out by that but I am hoping that with a TON of prayer... and a bunch of sucking up ... and treating others with honeyed words.... I can make it great?

Wish me luck!  I have a feeling that I'll need a seat belt or two to stay on this roller coaster ride I call life!

We survived a birthday Party ~

 We went to a birthday party-- and because we know this family rather well.. I was much less worried about how Shane's social skills would be perceived. Or maybe I was hot and tired ?   Instead of going and getting Shane out of the back bedroom to watch the birthday girl unwrap her presents, I let him play all by himself... it was much more relaxing for everyone.
The kids all got a turn to SWAK the pinata -- that was FUN to watch... both Jessica and Shane really have great and powerful swings! 


This picture of Shane eating cake while rolling his eyes-- was because I wanted a picture of him with the hat on... he was BUSY eating and mom was being a PEST.
ah, well... That's my job isn't it?  The adults and some of the kids were handed out silly string--- we all went outside and had a silly string fight... GOOD TIMES! --

I do need to make a confession-- Shane's hair was getting really long... I kept saying that he had Justin Bieber hair.... (Shane is WAY better looking than Justin Bieber) ... but Shane's hair was getting so long that I couldn't see his eyes.   In the past we have taken him in to the hair salon and only one time have we had a good experience. So.... when I was at Walgreens' I found a Conair Hair Trimmer, (I was going to provide a link ...but I can't find it on the Conair site...weird!) it was really a small comb with a razor in the teeth...  I used it on Shane's hair and ... I was not skilled at the beginning-- so he has a few spots on the back of his head that look like I was under the influence when I cut his hair.    I wasn't .... but he was sure doing a TON of complaining... and crying and whining, and struggling...  I guess it was a mutual thing,... he wanted me to stop touching him and I wanted him to stop complaining and just deal.
I may of got his hair cut.... but I apologized for the spots I messed up.... once he took a shower he was fine and not mad at all... 
That is why I pushed the picture taking with the hat on. :0) (This mommy almost always has a motive! )

The kids and I are really ready for a break from each other... 

 In my honest...opinion~ Shane is being more of a pest

 to Jessica and she is doing her best to be ....a part of the problem.

Tuesday, is meet the teacher day-- and two of the teachers' have their birthday--

 then Wednesday is the first day of school! yahooo!!!!!

Since I have been laid up with my foot,  the kids have been doing some things in the kitchen without my help.... and now that I am more mobile...

 I am just a bit .... err unhappy with all the things they have been doing...

drinking the milk outta the carton--

making a mess with the straws--

not sitting still while drinking or eating...

 not asking before getting a snack.

I have a feeling... that SOON...I will be creating a  large household do's and don't list ---

do make Mommy happy by using your ears... ALL THE TIME

Don't DRINK THE MILK OUTTA THE CARTON!!!!!!

I was gone for a few days, and now I'm forty!

So, this week has been busy- Jessica to PDX for her check-up, me to the podiatrist for the "map pins" out-- and released to drive, my 40th birthday on the 1st,Then 1st time with a physical therapist, helping out at the school with the kids, grocery shopping with the kids, tomorrow a birthday party, then church and maybe a BBQ at a lake.

Emotions have been running high lately.... the weather has been warm and I have been alot less patient-- I have also found it tough to actively ignore bad attitudes. My feelings were a bit hurt- and although I kinda knew that would happen-- I was still saddened by the selfishness of other people.

It was  VERY nice to be released to drive, but then when I talked with my PT, she explained that I need to step up my game-- and start using my foot "for real" I have been really reluctant to put my foot to use.  So, now I am trying to follow her instructions and do my exercises every night and every morning, I am also using ice on my foot to help the swelling dissipate.

I am learning that I may be able to drive, but spending all day wandering around on my foot --isn't the best idea.

I am so glad that school starts next week, the kids have been so energetic,talkative, and just FULL of motion-- this Mommy.... needs a break!

Jessica seems to be changing her way of interacting with me, and I'm curious if she is just testing the waters-- or if she is really changing into a mouthy soon to be 10 year old. I am not ready to have such challenges with Jessica... I've got my hands full with Shane...     I may have to call for renforcements!

Recent Pictures

I must post quickly, the energy I thought I had is now dwindling away... so here are a few pictures... and
hopefully tomorrow I'll have some new interesting things to post about...

Got this from Aunt Danni... on my early birthday present... awww....

The neighbor girl... who's name is Jessica recently turned 16... this is the surprise party her mom had for her tonight... it was fun... but very weird being around all that teenage angst...

The Fair and food born illnesses.

For a long time I have debated whether or not to write a post like this--
 I know that my views on this topic are colored by the experiences that our family has been through.
Here's a bit of the back story --- http://www.marlerclark.com/case_news/view/lane-county-fair-e-coli-outbreak-oregon

Jerry and I went to the fair, Jessica was about 15months old, I was about 8 months pregnant with Shane-- It was hot out and I remember just wanting to walk and eat an elephant ear. Jessica was a preemie so we were super vigilant about her care when we were out in public. We always brought our own snacks, and wipes...a change of clothes... Jerry and I talked about how to keep Jessica safe while we were at the fair, she had only just begun to walk with skill and so we decided that we would keep her as much as possible in the stroller. We also agreed that~ as much as we like animals that we would avoid the animal barns.
Sadly, we found out that E coli can be transmitted via dust particulate --- apparently Jessica ingested the E coli-- an amount the size of a dime!  E coli has an incubation period (Incubation period: 10 hours - 9 days; usually 3-5 days) and so we didn't know she was sick immediately. 
But once she was sick is was brutal to watch. We managed to get in to see our Dr. and she suggested that we immediately go to the hospital.
Jessica ended up spending about a week here at our local hospital, and then we were shipped to Doernbechers in Portland.  I quit my job and roomed in with Jessica... While we were in PDX, I turned another year older. After several dialysis treatments and a month or so later we were discharged. We came home and were required to keep track of Jessica's blood pressure and food intake, we also had some  yucky medicine that we had to give her. (I accidentally sipped some of it... and it was bad... she had to take it at mealtimes... poor kid-- the Dr.'s wanted her to gain weight but the medication didn't help )
Anyway... It was a long road to recovery and -- honestly she isn't 100%.  She still takes high blood pressure medication, and one of her kidneys is bigger than the other-- The Dr.'s are watchful that when she is a teen -- her kidney's will grow at the same rate as her body.  We have her yearly appointment coming up at the end of the month-- neither Jessica nor I are looking forward to that appointment.

This week is our fair week... and many friends and family are going to the Fair.. -- and although I really enjoy seeing the sights, the sounds and the smells at the fair, I love to see the things that people with skills create, the crafts, food and sewing projects.
 I am not eager to spend money to go to a place -- where my family could get deathly sick.
I know that there is a very small possibility that Jessica could get E coli again-- and honestly that is enough for me  to not take that chance and put her at risk.

We did try and sue, to recover monetary compensation for our medical expenses -- We had a great lawyer, Bill Marler,  but here in Oregon a class action lawsuit requires two things, One, that you prove damages- and Second, that you prove liability. There were about 70 families represented, and although we could defiantly prove damages-- we could not prove to the judge that the Lane County Fair had done ..."anything" to cause our sickness.  It was heartbreaking to receive the news that although the Lane County Fair was the source of our outbreak-- we were unable to collect funds to compensate for our ordeal.

As I sit here typing this I hear on the news about another outbreak of salmonella -- in eggs and milk.

It truely makes me angry and sad-- that we are so technology evolved  and yet... food born illnesses can bring a nation wide recall of such basic items. 

Jessica's many purchases

Jessica spent her birthday money--
We found her ...very first pair of high heeled shoes~
We also found this sweet swimsuit at Old Navy for $9.00!

She also spent $23.99 at Barnes & Noble--

She purchased Poppy by AVI

The Sisters Grimm by Michael Buckley

She also purchased Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

She also found a book mark that is ECO friendly it has a removeable leaf shape that you can plant!

And I don't think she could be any happier!

Jessica's 9th Birthday Party!

Jerry was nice enough to light the candle for Jessica twice... the wind blew it out both times! --- (Thanks to Aunt Sue for bringing the candle,the lighter and the juice boxes and water!)

Look at all the kidlets....calmly eating their cupcakes... awwww Such a good group of kids! There were not tears and no fighting that I saw !

We were finally home, and Jerry was being wacky... he only had about 4 hours sleep....

We ate dinner out, Shane told Jessica..."Come, quick I found a four leaf clover... "

Jessica... said with only a bit of sarcasm "Uh, no Shane that's a Rhody..."

Jessica pulled out her planting supplies and got right to work... I wanted proof that I had been with her,celebrating her birthday-- but I wanted to hide behind the tree...

I have to take a moment and thank those who did some behind the scenes helping-- Katie for the ice, Debbie for sending Lynn,(I hope Lynn gets better soon!) Pam and Jessica for baking the cupcakes, Danni for picking up and bringing My mother in law, and Aunt Sue for being my "Don't worry about it I'll take care of it gal !" Thanks to Alex's mom who brought a gift card even though Alex was grounded.

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Hutch for coming with Bitsy all the way from Roseburg, Thanks to Jasmine and the kids... who are SUPER cute and SUPER well behaved for coming...

I was teasing one of the kids ~ :)

"I used to tease you and you would get mad... now I tease you and you don't get mad..."

"Yeah, my Dad told me to keep control of my anger!"

love that honesty!

Thanks to Betsy and her mom for the great and fun gift of a zuzu pet.

Terry,Hop and Bella Mia-- it was SO very nice to see you all-- good thing you made it clear that Bella was your dog-- I think Jessica was ready to take her home!

Thank you to Stacey who kept her sick kiddo's home-- I'll bring your thank you bags by when you are well... or I'll drop them off and try not to get your sickness! :) get better soon!

I hope I didn't forget anyone... Each of you helped to make this day easier... Thanks!

Jessica will be creating your thank you cards tomorrow!

Our Week has been busy...

This week has been busy... walking with Aunt Sue,working at the school, walking with 3rd graders, sewing -- then we will have Jessica's birthday party this weekend-- :)

Monday she gets her braces off!

Tomorrow I get to see the foot Dr.-- I have some ugggglllllyyyy feet-- along with hammer toe and bunions-- I hope the Dr. and I agree I need repair and that insurance will pay for the WHOLE amount... (I know... I know, wishful thinking...)

A sensory cartoon?

Do you know what Cookie Jar Tv is all about?
http://www.cookiejartv.com/noonbory.html
There is a show on Saturday mornings that makes my little heart warm--
It's called the Noonbory and the Super 7... hop over to here and read all about it.

Today we are off to visit my cousin who just returned from Haiti-I am excited to hear first hand what it was like to be in a place with such devastation, and yet the people are so positive.

Tomorrow is my grandson Irie's first birthday party and we were kindly invited by his mom! It's also church day so -- we might have to go to early service so that we aren't late for the party.

Monday, Shane will be home with me, because of his recent behaviors-- he lost the privilege of going on the all day field trip- to Mt.Pisgah- and the SPED teacher is unavailable to be with Shane for the school day so-- they asked that I keep him home. The rest of the week Shane will only be in school until 12:30., There is more testing that the SPED teacher needs to be available for and so Shane will not have a place to be.
I am a bit annoyed at this -- but I am trying hard to not be annoyed.
I know that we will have a meeting soon-- to talk about how things need to be tweaked-- I think that the IA is getting very distracted by the other kids-- and so Shane is getting away with a ton of manipulating.
May I just mention that even if you have an IEP, and accommodations for your child, you still need to be their advocate !

In twelve days, my daughter Jessica will be 9-- geesh! I am simply stunned at how quickly time has flown by!~ I am trying to figure out party ideas, we have a wide range of ages,and both girls and boys that Jessica wants to invite so -- I am going to have to be SUPER creative!

I googled 9 year old birthday party ideas and printed some out for Jessica-- now she needs to make a choice!

One last day of Spring Break

Our Last Day of Spring Break...


While we were at the mall, Shane and Jerry found this-- you put your coin in the plastic holder and then watch the coin go around and around-- Jessica and I had started some coins on the other side -- so we were all trying to pay attention to which coin was ahead. We never did figure out which coin won.

This is where we ate for dinner... and I did much better than usual, I had salad and some meat and potatoes and then a small bit of ice cream and cheesecake.-- Normally, I would of eaten a TON more.
(I am making changes...they may be seen as small -- but still changes!)

This is how we started the afternoon off--

How to Train your Dragon in 3d!

GREAT movie, funny and stunning-- really fun to watch!

The boys... Shane and Jerry enjoying the movie~

                                                                                                     Don't I look a bit funny in my 3d glasses?

 Jessica put her 3d glasses on over her regular glasses... At this point Shane wasn't ready to put his glasses on yet...

This is where we ended up the evening .... Bumper zone...

I don't know who had the best time Shane,Jerry or Jessica! -- I had fun watching and taking pictures... I need to hire a photographer to follow us around and take our pictures--otherwise the kids will forget I was ... taking the pictures!

Maybe ... we will have Shane...or Jessica's next birthday at Bumper Zone... it seemed to be fun for all...

Recent pictures...

We recently went to a birthday party,

 Jessica enjoyed a BLUE cupcake!

Jerry also enjoyed a BLUE cupcake...

(Shane did have a meltdown at the party, but I was able to take him outside and talk him out of his bad mood.)



Jessica and Shane were .... skating on our sidewalk ....

Shane was taking a break from skating...

Jerry took this picture of me at the party... I DIDN'T have a blue cupcake...

(grrr.... This picture looked better when I was editing it... )

Life ...Is...

moving along ...

things haven't been really good or really bad-- so I haven't felt like posting...

Do you know how to make your own hummus? I have been trying to figure out how--

I am also trying out a new recipe this evening-

maple-pecan pork chops or breaded pork chops

and Parmesan couscous.

Shane may have a playdate tomorrow, -- I am still thinking about if I want to drop him off with the Dad of the other boy-- or if I "need" to stay and watch how Shane does... 

I want to "let him"  be independent, but I also know that a meltdown could quickly become scary. 

I just don't know...

The deer,my dear, and stuff...

I am happy to report that my dear husband, eh... got his deer.
He sent me a text with a picture of it at 8am this morning... then about 1/2 hour later he sent me another picture-- of him holding the head,his gun, and smiling...
I have to say that I sent back a text and asked if that was really him--
he has hair/fur on his face and his hat looked yellow (it is really orange) plus he was wearing his glasses, normally I have to pester him to wear them...
- not what my husband normally looks like...
I even forwarded his picture on to friends and they all commented that Jerry looked...
WAY different... --
If I was more skilled I would send the picture from my phone to the blog... but alas I cannot!
He will be home late in the evening tomorrow, and I bet he will smell bad also-- Oh, Joy!
But, he will be home... and he can take the A/C unit out of the window so that in the cccoooollllddddd mornings I can have the heat on.(It's all about me... and my creature comforts...)

The kids and I stayed at home and did alot of ...nothing... Ah, Joy!

Tomorrow there is a birthday party for a friend of Jessica's, it's at a place called Putters' -- they have a TON of video games and "put put golf"
-- I know the kids would enjoy themselves, but I don't know how I will be able to get Shane to leave... normally Jerry and I double team Shane--
I say it's time and Jerry will go and "motivate"Shane to leave... sometimes Jerry will put Shane on his shoulder and that seems to make the leaving "more fun"... there are funny voices and also a funny story. I am not as skilled at making the leaving easier... I do believe Shane knows this and so he acts out more with me than Jerry...
Gosh, it's great he's SO smart... really it's great!

What is your weekend looking like?

This week

I had a feeling... that this week was going to be rocky-- I was right!
(sometimes I just hate being right...)
Monday wasn't bad, but I was still sore from the weekend hiking.
Tuesday it was curriculum night, Shane and Jessica were in the cafeteria with some teens and adults-- Shane didn't want pizza-- so I planned ahead and made him a sack dinner.Although we left early, Shane was still rather obnoxious.
Wednesday, it was Jerry's birthday and we had to go and see my parents who were in town to organize things for a garage sale at my grandparents' house.
Thursday was Shane's birthday,and he started the day saying I don't want to go to school-- it's boring. Later that day he melted down-- first he got a time out...then the detention--then he was still having a tough time staying still-- He ended up getting mad and scratching the teacher. When you hurt a teacher you get a LEVEL 3...
Last year I almost always would of been called after a LEVEL 3, this year-- the staff was able to work with Shane to get him calmed down and focused.
Today wasn't his best day, but he did take his time-outs and detentions without hurting anyone. He also ran in the hallway with his lap top computer and so for a time he will not get the privilege of using the computer.
I had Shane write a note to the teacher who he hurt, He typed it, while I spelled the words-- he also helped choose what the note said.
Then I wrote a note to the principal,the teacher and his special ed teacher-- thanking them for working with Shane and not letting his bad choices change how they dealt with him.
I am hoping and praying that next week is calmer, and more focused on the good stuff !
Shane did tell me that he thought that,
because he drank chocolate milk at lunch
--that was what caused the Level 3 !
So, I suggested he choose the white milk more often.-- I wonder if he heard me?
Both Jessica and Shane seem to be fighting a head cold-- so I am trying to not... freak out that they have the swine flu...
I think we will try to have a mellow weekend so that Monday will go well!

Rain,pain, and the week to come!

When Danni suggested that she take Jessica and I backpacking, I said yes, because I thought that Danni would not take her only sister in law,(me) and her only niece (Jessica) hiking to ...hurt them.

Danni is super organized, she had Jessica and I bring our clothing choices over to her house to get her... approval or disapproval... Danni does not allow cotton material for hiking... I have almost a whole closet full of cotton clothing... I looked for clothing that wasn't cotton and I found a few pieces-- Thank God for St Vinny's and Goodwill's!

When we packed our clothing, Danni loaned me two pair of socks, one was wool--- I didn't want to wear them...but I did.

The forecasters all said that there was only.. a 30% chance of rain....

They were WRONG .... it rained as we hiked in, it rained while we set up,it rained while we made dinner,it rained while we were in our tents blowing up the air mattresses, then while we slept, it rained.

In the morning we awoke to find that it had also froze the rain drops on the tents!~

It was so very nice to see the sunshine later that day!--

that is why there is the picture of me with sunglasses, soaking up the sun.

(please view this picture with your best airbrushing in mind...) Thanks!

We met many different groups of hikers --some older....some younger---but I was very proud to be apart of the group of 4 ladies who stuck it out... since Jessica and I were new to hiking, we could of whined and said let's leave NOW... but neither Jessica nor I were willing to admit defeat!

I am very sore, Jessica says she is very sore, being out in nature when the sun was shining down on the pretty water and the sky was the PERFECT shade of blue... ahhhh-- it was worth it!

One of the ladies from our church who is a healthy, happy hiker, happened to be available to come with us, which was fun-- she told stories about China, and her travels and experiences there--.

I can't say that I already have my next hiking trip planned-- because I am still working thru the pain of this one... but it was kinda fun...

When I got home my husband had done some work in the kitchen,(cleaning) he even made cookies! Shane had the privilege to play video games almost the whole weekend.

While the cat is away... the mice will play?

This week is another busy week for us~ tomorrow is curriculum night at the kids' school -- Jerry's birthday is on Wes. and Shane's birthday is on Thursday. On Sat. Jerry "gets" to watch a girl from his work...fight in a cage fight-- (WHAT?) -- and then on Sunday I get to help my dear friend Patty celebrate her birthday--

I wonder if October will be less busy?

Food and Fabric, ah, Joy!

Pardon me, I am eating spaghetti while I type... and I LOVE spaghetti...

the kids and Jerry do also-- so when I make spaghetti I feel the love from EVERYONE!

I make it with Foster Farms Turkey Meatballs, home style version~

(look for them in the freezer section)

both of the kids are kinda picky eaters

So, I take these meatballs which come fully cooked,

I bake them in the oven, then I cool them

while the noodles are cooking

and then I add the sauce.

(I just use whatever jar of spaghetti sauce I have,

if I add extra cans of tomatoes or any extra spices, Shane will not eat as much)

Then I get out the meatballs and cut them up

-- Jerry and I love just eating the meatballs whole--

but I found that the spaghetti goes a bit further if I cut them up~

Because the meatballs are soft and pre-formed

they seem to be easier for the kids to eat, then ground beef.

Ah, Joy.... simple, almost priceless joy!

At lunch the other day Shane choose a Garden burger, he took one bite and then raised his hand... "May I , have something else?, This isn't what I expected!" The staff was nice enough to let Shane have another lunch, this time he choose a cheeseburger. (Shane tries to tell me that he is a vegetarian, but --- I disagree with him!)

Recently I turned 39 ... and my Mother-in-law was so SWEET, she just sent me a bleated birthday card with a gift card for $20.00 at Joann's Fabrics...!
Jerry was able to let me go to the fabric store all by myself!

I couldn't make a choice-- I kept seeing things that I wanted to make for Jessica,Shane, my sister-in-law Sara...my nephew Miles... my grandson Irie. When I realized it was almost 5pm I decided that I needed to just sit at the pattern table and choose!

It sure helped that Simplicity patterns were on sale for $1.99 -- then when the pattern called for knit fabric I found some that was 30% off! Score!

I got the fabric,the pattern some thread and I still have almost $3.00 left on the card! yahooooo...
Simplicity pattern #2554 view B, the fabric I choose is at the top of this post.

Now, if I could just "farm my kids out" for about 4 hours-- I bet I could get the top cut out and sewn. Too bad Jerry works for the next 4 days... (I also need to finish some Pj's for my cousin's son...)

Just before dinner Shane comes up to me... looks me in the eyes and says, "Mom, can I go back to school?" I almost had tears well up in my eyes-- He wanted to go back to school--

what JOY -- this conversation would of never of happened last year... there were too many mixed messages about school. I answered him that yes on Monday he could go back to school.

Next weekend, my sister-in-law Danni-- who is a very qualified backpacker, is taking Jessica and I for an overnight backpacking trip.-- We are going to Matthew's Lake-- apparently it isn't a tough hike but it is a lot more than I am used to. Danni is so eager to go, that she offered to let me sit and take a break while she hikes with Jessica to our camp, and then comes back to help me ...

I so hope.... and pray that I am able to just keep moving...I am so sure I will be tired and sore in the morning-- but I am also hoping that this will motivate me to start exercising !

Birthdays,Meetings and school soon to start!

We went to a birthday party for a sweet little 2 year old, Shane didn't want to leave, Jessica wanted to smile like a movie star-- and then we got to babysit Baby Irie -- first for the afternoon and then overnight... well... until 1am when the text came that Irie's parents' missed him, and could I pack up his stuff and bring him home... ? :) I was happy to pack up Irie and bring him home-- he was such a GOOD baby... no crying, no fussing, when he woke up after hearing my phone beep from the text message, he didn't make a noise, he just smiled and cooed! I didn't mind having the baby here, but it was hard to sleep when, I kept trying to listen for the baby! It was like having a brand newborn and not wanting to sleep-- in case they "needed" you!

It was kinda funny explaining to the kids this morning, where the baby went ---

In just a short time we will head to the school for our meeting with the staff at the school... I am keeping positive thoughts in my mind... and prayers in my heart!

Tomorrow is the first day of school... I want the quiet... and yet... I want the noise and the mess...

I will survive! I will.... ! :)

I hope your day goes well also!